The Chiefs face an early injury crisis after seeing five of their players injured in the first round Super Rugby clash with the Highlanders.

The Waikato-based franchise lost the match 23-19 and prop Ben Afeaki sustained the worst of the injuries with the front-rower expected to be out for 12 weeks with a broken right arm. And he is joined on the sidelines by scrum-half Brendan Leonard is out for eight weeks with a major hamstring injury.

And the pair are joined by fellow front-row Toby Smith - who is out for six weeks with a pulled calf - and back-row Alex Bradley who faces four weeks out.

Flyer Lelia Masaga is also out after suffering a knee injury - he is set for a month out. The Chiefs will now have to re-group ahead of their match with the Blues on Friday.